Treatment of filaments, foils, and the like



TREATMENT OF FILAMENTS, FOILS, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 26, 1958 ROBERT w MONCRIEFF .IJ'OHN GDDDDY I NTORS ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert Wighton Moncriefl and John Gooddy, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application February 26, 1938, Serial No. 192,734 In Great Britain March 25, 1937 15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the treatment of textile and other materials, and particularly to improvements in processes wherein filaments, yarns, foils and similar materials are subjected to stretching operations or other operations in fluid media under super-atmospheric pressure.

U. S. application S. No. 69,282, filed March 17, 1936, describes apparatus for subjecting filaments, foils and similar materials to stretching and other operations in steam and other fluid media under super-atmospheric pressure. The apparatus described comprises a pressure treatment chamber and one or more end pressure chambers for compressed air or other inert fluid which may contain feed devices for the materials. The presence of the compressed fluid in the end pressure chamber or chambers reduces or prevents any drag on the materials in the pressure treatment chamber due to flow of treatment agent through the orifices through which the materials enter and/0r leave the treatment chamber.

The present application is concerned with processes and apparatus by which this reduction or prevention of tension can be achieved without the use of the separate chambers communicating by fine orifices for passage of the-materials which are described in the above specification,

The absence of the fine orifices between the end chamber and treatment chamber facilitates threading up and the passage through the machine of knots where one end is joined to another. It also facilitates the recovery of broken ends by tying a broken thread to an unbroken one before it enters the apparatus and separating the threads after they have passed through it.

According to the present invention filaments, yarns, foils and similar materials, particularly such materials made of cellulose acetate and other organic derivatives of cellulose, are subjected to stretching and other treatments with treatment fluidsat super-atmospheric pressures by passing the materials into a body of inert liquid under super-atmospheric pressure and having a free surface in contact with the treatment fluid, from said liquid into said fluid and from said fluid to a take-up device.

The apparatus employed may comprise a single chamber having means for circulating water or other inert liquid through the bottom portion, which contains a feed device, and means for introducing steam or other treatment fluid at a position above the water level, and the materials may pass upward through the water and treatment fluid, either vertically or in a path making a substantial angle with the horizontal, e. g., 45.

Preferably, however, the apparatus employed is the novel apparatus forming a part of the present invention, which is substantially closed and comprises a treatment chamber provided with an inlet for treatment fluid and with an outlet for the materials, a second chamber provided with an inlet for the materials and communicating with the treatment chamber by a passage of substantial dimensions between said chambers, means for circulating inert liquid through said passage so as to prevent passage of treatment fluid into the second chamber, and means for passing the materials successively through the second chamber and the treatment chamber. Preferably, the second chamber contains a positively driven feed device for the materials.

The term free surface as used above and elsewhere in this specification means a surface of substantial area as compared with the crosssectional area of the materials being treated, and the term passage of substantial dimensions as employed above and elsewhere in this specification means a passage of substantial cross-sectional area as compared with the crosssectional area of the materials to be treated.

Examples of such apparatus are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section of an apparatus in which the materials pass into the liquid seal during their passage round the nip rollers, while v Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section of an apparatus in which the passage round the nip rollers is completed before the materials come into contact with the liquid seal.

Referring to Figure 1 the apparatus comprises a chamber 4 containing a partition 5 which extends downwards below the outlet 6 for the water or other liquid employed toseal off the compartment 8 from the other compartment 9. An inlet 1 for water or other liquid is provided. Nip rollers III are contained in the compartment 9, which is also provided with an inlet 25 for inert gas, and a guide roller 1 I is provided in the compartment 8 which also contains steam jets I2. Apipe l3 provided with a valve l4 connects the two chambers so that they can be put into communication if desired in order to equalize the pressure. The filaments or other materials I5 enter the compartment 9 through the orifices i6 and pass around the nip rollers l and under. the partition into the compartment 8. They then pass round the roller it between the steam jets i2 and out 5 through the outlet '11 to nip rollers l8 which apply the stretching tension. They then pass to a suitable take-up derrlce (not shown) Instead of having air in the upper portion of the chamber 9 the liquid may be allowed to till the 1 whole of the chamber and issue through the air inlet 25, the valve 6 being shut and the pressure in the two chambers being such that the liquid level in chamber 8 is below the steam Jets l2. T The apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 comprises a chamber 9 containing nip rollers l0 and communicating by means of a channel I! with a U shaped vessel 20, the other end of which communicates with a stretching chamber 2i containing steam jets I2. Guides 22 are provided to conduct the materials through the chamber 20. An'inlet 23 and outlet 24, both of which are valve controlled, are provided for the liquid seal. Air or other inert gas can be introduced into the chamber 9 through the valve controlled inlet 25. 25 In operation the filaments or other materials l5 enter the chamber 9 through the inlet l6, pass round the nip rollers l0, thence through the channel l9 and'the chamber 20 round the guides 22 and finally through the stretching chamber 2i aoitq nip rollers I8 by means of which they are stretched. The materials then pass to a suitable take-up device (not shown).

elf required a. third chamber containing inert fluid maybe provided which communicates with the treatment chamber by a passage containing a liquid seal": so that the materials pass from the treatment chamber through the third chamber before emerging into the air. This chamber may contain a feed device for stretching the materials. 40 The water or other liquid is preferably circulated continuously through the bottom of the chamber or chambers in order that it may be maintained ata constant temperature. Preferably the liquid is at room-temperature, and in any case its temperature should not be so high as to bring the materials into a condition such that stretching takes place prior to their entering the steam. V

Saturated or wet steam may be employed for stretching at a temperature of, for example, 110, 125 or 135i C. or more. 1:; order to increase the wetness of the steam the steam chamber may contain a water spray. On the other hand, good results may be obtained without the use "of a 55 spray. r W

The materials may be sprayed with cold water immediately on issuing from the stretching chamber in order that the action of the steam may be sharply confined to the materials during their 6%) passage through the stretching chamber.

The properties oi. the materials, and particularly their tenacity, and extensibilityfmay be varied considerably by variation of the stretching conditions, for example the temperature of the steam employed; the degree of stretch, thesizeend number of the steam inlets andthe length 0! the stretching chamber. For example, by suit-' able variation of the conditions cellulose acetate yarns having a tenacity of 2, 4 or 5 grams per denier or even more may be obtained.

The general conditions for the treatment of filaments and other materials using the apparatus described in the present application may be similar to those described in U. 8. application 8.

: treatment agent and does not react with it and has a sufliciently low vapour pressure at the treat- 15 ment temperature. Such a liquid may,'for ex- "ample, be mercury or an organic liquid. In such a case the treatment agent may be introduced into the chamber 8 of Fig. 1 or the chamber 2| of Fig. 2 through the jets i2 and an outlet prince g may be provided. The chamber may also be provided with a heating coil to maintain the agent at the required temperature.

Having described our invention what we desire to secure by. Letters Patent is: i

1. Apparatus for subjecting filaments, foils and similar materials to treatment with fluid media under super-atmospheric pressure during their travel from one point to another, which is substantially closed and which comprises a treatment 30 chamber provided with an inlet for treatment fluid and with an outlet for the materials, a second chamber provided with an inlet for the materials and communicating with the treatment chamber by a passage of substantial dimensions, 35 means for maintaining a body oi inert liquid in said passage so as to prevent treatment fluid passing into the second chamber, and means for passing the materials successively. through the second chamber, the passage and the treatment 45 chamber.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber contains a positively driven feed device for the materials.

3. Apparatus for subjecting fllaments, foils and 45 similar materials to treatment with fluid media under superatmospheric pressure during their travelgfrom one point to another, which is substantially closed and is provided with inlet and J outlet orifices for the materials and which como prises a. treatment chamber provided with an inlet for treatment fluid, a second chamber communicating with the treatment chamber by a passage of substantial dimensions and containing a positively driven feed device for the ma- 55 terials, means for maintaining a'body of inert liquid in said passage so as to prevent treatment fluid passing into the second chamber, and means for passing' the materials successively through the second chamber, the passage and the treat- 00 ment chamber.

4. Apparatus for subjecting filaments, foils and similar materials to treatment with fluid media under superatmospheric pressure during their travel from one point to another, which is sub- 55 stantially closed and is provided with inlet and outlet orifices for the materials and which comprises a treatment chamber provided with an inlet for treatment fluid, a second chamber communicating with the treatment chamber by a 7 passage of substantial dimensions and containing a positively driven feed device for the materials, means, for circulating inert liquid through said passage so as to prevent treatment fluid passing into the second chamber, and means for passing the materials successively through the second chamber, the passage and the treatment chamber.

5. Apparatus for subjecting filaments, foils and similar materials to treatment with fluid media under superatmospheric pressure during their travel from one point to another, which is substantially closed and is provided with inlet and outlet orifices for the materials and which comprises a treatment chamber provided with an inlet for treatment fluid, a second chamber communicating with the treatment chamber by a passage of substantial dimensions and containing a positively driven feed device and provided with an inlet for inert fluid, means for circulating inert liquid through said passage so as to prevent treatment fluid passing into the second chamber, and means for passing the materials successively through the second chamber, the passage and the treatment chamber.

6. Process for the treatment of filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with treatment fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing the materials into a body of inert liquid contained in the apparatus under superatmospheric pressure and having a free surface in contact with a treatment fluid under superatmospheric pressure, and from said liquid into said fluid.

7. Process for the treatment of filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with treatment fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing the materials into an inert fluid contained in the apparatus under superatmospheric pressure and from said fluid through an inert liquid into a treatment fluid which is under superatmospheric pressure and which is separated from the inert fluid by the inert liquid, said inert liquid having free surfaces in contact with the inertfiuid and treatment fluid respectively.

8. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing the materials in contact with a positively driven feed device immersed in a body of inert liquid contained in the apparatus under superatmospheric pressure and having a free surface in contact with a stretch-assisting fluid under superatmospheric pressure and from said liquid through said fluid and stretching the materials during their passage through the stretchassisting fluid.

9. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing the materials into an inert gas which is under superatmospheric pressure, in contact with a positively driven feed device contained in the apparatus, and from said gas through an inert liquid into a stretch-assisting fluid which is under superatmospheric pressure and which is separated from the inert gas by the inert liquid, and stretching the materials during their travel through the stretch-assisting fluid, said inert liquid having free surfaces in contact with the inert gas and the stretch-assisting fluid respectively. I

10. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing artificial filaments, foils and similar materials having a basis of an organic derivative of cellulose in contact with a positively driven feed device immersed in a body of inert liquid contained in the apparatus under superatmospheric pressure and having a free surface in contact with a stretch-assisting fluid under superatmospheric pressure and from said liquid through said fluid and stretching the materials during their passage through the stretch-assisting fluid.

11. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing artificial filaments, foils and similar materials having a basis of an organic derivative of cellulose into an inert gas which is under superatmospheric pressure, in contact with a positively driven feed device contained in the apparatus, and from said gas through an inert liquid into a stretchassisting fluid which is under superatmospheric pressure and which is separated from the inert gas by the inert liquid, and stretching the materials during their travel through the stretchas sisting fluid, said inert liquid having free surfaces in contact with the inert gas and the stretchassisting fluid respectively.

12. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing artificial filaments, foils and similar materials having a basis of an organic derivative of cellulose in contact with a positively driven feed device immersed in a body of inert liquid contained in the apparatus under superatmospheric pressure and having a free surface in contact-with a stretch-assisting fluid under superatmospheric pressure and selected from the group consisting of wet steam and hot water at a temperature above 100 C. and from said liquid through said fluid and stretching the materials during their passage through the stretch-assisting fluid.

13. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing artificial filaments, foils and similar materials having a basis of an organic derivative of cellulose into an inert gas which is under superatmospheric pressure, in contact with a positively driven feed device contained in the apparatus, and from said gas through an inert liquid into a stretch-assisting fluid which is under superatmospheric pressure and is selected from the group consisting of wet steam and hot water at a temperature above 100 C. and which is separated from the inert gas by the inert liquid, and stretching the materials during their travel through the stretch-assisting fluid, said inert liquid having free surfaces in contact with the inert gas and the stretch-assisting fluid respectively.

14. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing artificial fllaments, foils and similar materials having a basis of cellulose acetate in wet steam at a temperature above 100 C. on to the materials immediately after they issue from the inert liquid, and stretching the materials during their passage through the steam.

15. Process for stretching artificial filaments, foils and similar materials in a substantially closed apparatus with stretch-assisting fluids under superatmospheric pressure, which comprises passing artificial filaments, foils and similar materials having a basis of cellulose acetate into an inert gas which is under superatmospheric pressure, in contact with a positively driven feed device coninert liquid having free surfaces in contact with the inert gas and the steam respectively.

ROBERT WIGHION MONCRIEFF. I JOHNGOODDY. 

